Great American Road Trip

Buffalo Exchange goes mobile with cross-country Airstream pop-up tour

Buffalo Exchange is widely known for its steal-of-a-deal clothing finds, but the company also has a history worth celebrating. This spring, the shop that made "buy-sell-trade" a sustainable way to enhance your wardrobe on the cheap is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an apropos — and casually hip — pop-up tour across the country.

For two months, Buffalo Exchange will embark on the great American road trip in a vintage Airstream.

For two months, Buffalo Exchange will embark on the great American road trip in a vintage Land Yacht Airstream (the trailer is pulled by a vehicle), popping up at all of its retail outlets, from its founding city of Tucson, Arizona to the hipster capital of Portland, Oregon to, of course, Austin.

On board the vintage trailer, cost-conscious fashionistas can shop a collection of vintage and Western-inspired apparel and accessories. A sneak peek inside the trailer, which begins its tour on March 7, reveals a well-curated selection of boots, handbags, jewelry and clothing embodying a carefree bohemian vibe. (Think vintage cowboy boots, colorful ponchos, bright frocks and leather satchels.)

Shopping is of course top of mind for those checking out the pop-up tour, but the Airstream is worth exploring, too. Its hippie-chic aesthetic comes from eclectic styling; in true Buffalo Exchange fashion, the trailer is outfitted with items purchased from thrift stores, flea markets and salvage yards.

"Vintage suitcases were made into shelving, a fitting tribute to both clothing and travel," Buffalo Exchange said in a press release. "Sprinkled throughout the trailer are old photographs of [founders] Kerstin and Spencer [Brock], and the early days of the stores," adding a personal touch to the already intimate shopping experience.

The Buffalo Exchange Airstream will stop in Texas after meandering its way through Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. The trailer will pop up in Dallas on March 22, Austin on March 23 and Houston on March 26-27. Follow the cross-country tour on Buffalo Exchange's Instagram feed.

For two months, Buffalo Exchange will embark on the great American road trip.

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Exchange

For two months, Buffalo Exchange will embark on the great American road trip.

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Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

local business cocktails shopping